The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-04-16

BIOGRAPHY,


''In the Camera magazine very
curious phenomenon, in connection
with photography, is recorded by the
person who observed il. He took a
porirlit Of child apparently IN full
health and with a clear skin. The
negative picture showed the face 10 be
thickly covered with an eruption OF
spots due TO prickly.heat. The camera
had seen and photographed the erup-
ton three days before II was visible TO
the eye Another case Of somewhat
similar kind is also recorded, where
child showed spots on his portrait
which was invisible on his face fort
night previous 10 an attack OF small
pox. IL is suggested that these cases
might point 20 new method OF medi-
cal diagnosis. "-Ectnfng Post.
sLEcTRoPLATING WITH PLATINUM.
Platinum has not been much used
in electroplating, Notwithstanding its
hard, durable, and protective proper
ties. This is, perhaps, chiefly owing
10 the practical difficulty of obtaining
good firm "reguline" deposit. a
process for effecting this has, however,
been brought out recently by a Mr.
Bright, whose patents have been &C
quired by the Bright Platinum Plating
Company, and are in actual operation
in London at works established there.
Platinum has the advantage of keep
ing its color where silver, brass, or
copper becomes discolored, and will, to
some extent at least, replace the use of
these metals in electrotyping IL Will
be highly used in plating chemists
crucibles and so on. German silver,
for example, plated with platinum
can be used to manipulate strong acids.
BY the Bright process, platinum can
be deposited on any surface which can
be electroplated with other metals.
A NEW AND WONDERFUL METAL.
A new metal has quietly, modestly,
and almost without recognition made
It's advent. Hidden away in every bed
OF clay and in every block of seeming
ly worthless and friable rocky slate
this new found and wonderful metal
can be found, Like BethIehem's star,
it proclainis the possibilities of a new
civilization. Aluminium is very pie
belian In its aflinities. IL has never yet
been found alone. Dirt and rock
every rock, in fact, except limestone
are its holder and companion
When Franklin was curious to learn
by experiment II the lightning was OF
the same force as that Of the crude
electric machine, he little dreamed that
the tiny wire twisted in the string OF
his kite was % be the parent of the
telegraph and cable, that over the land
and under the sea, would. like Shaks-
peare's Puck, in forty minutes put a
girdle round the earth; that with cot-
/ web of wire, the human voice would
/ bridge space; our streets be lighted
with the little nerves Of electricity; and
our houses gladdened with its globules
Of daylight.
So when some forgotten chemist,
/ found in the dull dirt this new metal,
! he discovered a continent of possibili-
ties whose length and breadth he never
knew. 1t was next TO silver in luster.
Rust will not asseil il or gases attack.
IL does not poison like lead or color
like copper. Ii is but third the
weight of iron and but a quarter AS
heavy as silver. II can be made due
tile for railroad ties and be remitable
when worn. IL can be manufactured
into rail more durable than steel.
Steamships of this metal would lose
two thirds their weight. Engines con
structed OF IL would double their
strength. Bridges could triple their
strength and be lighteued in proper
ton. Cars made of it would be light
rs chalk, unburnable az brick, and inn
penetrable as diamond.
Aluminium is the most abundant ma
terial, next 10 oxygen, on the planet. IL
Is possible in the future TO dwell in
houses made OF it; houses that the
elements could not wear or fire destroy.
Combined with alloys its beauty is in
finity. Chemistry tells us " gives
red 20 the ruby green To the emerald
and blue TO the sapphire. II Is only
within half century that the existence
of this metal has been strmised, only
within thirty years has II been definite
lv known, and only within few year:
that lt has been utilized. 1T first 8
shy and hardly conquerable product OF
the laboratory, recent and newer meth
obs have lowered tae cost Of its pro
auctlon from so TO Sl5 per round. Il
only needs some fortunate and slillfu
slchemist 60 coax aluminium econom
icaliy from It's humble associate. TIT
1 con,n,rn clay 70 revolttiOniZe IN,